Branding Your Business - Part 2

1. Put together a Brand Package: Design a logo (or have designed for you!) that is simple and easy to read and understand. You don't need to explain every part of your business in the logo... keep it simple! From the logo, get a business card and stationery set (letterhead and envelopes) that coordinate and feature the new logo. If you do estimating or use other forms regularly, having a custom form that also features your logo is a great investment. Once you have this package put together, make sure your website coordinates as well! Use similar colors and design concepts throughout for a cohesive, professional image.
2. Get optimized online! You want to make sure that customers can find you easily, and an increasing number of people are going to the web first when searching for this information. One simple way to make sure you're maximizing the free resources is to go to GetListed.org, which will take it simple to claim your business presence across a number of sites.
3. Join the online world – Join the social media world through Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. These are great places to not only promote your business but also to educate your current and future clients, and to interact with them on a personalized level, which can go a long way to building a long-term relationship.
4. Put it into print – Postcards, newspaper, and direct mail are all great ways to get you message into your customers homes. Print media is different then the wonderful online world, simply due to the fact that your message is delivered right to the customer! The customer does not need to know who you are to be found.
5. Stick to it - A brand grows over time, you now should have a great plan of actions. Stick to it and you should see the success through your consistent actions and dedication to your marketing plan.

Bridges Gift Certificate Winner!

At the Home and Garden Show last weekend, we had a chance to enter to win a
$50 gift certificate to Bridges Restaurant in Danville!
We numbered each entry and used random.org to choose the winning number.
Congratulations to Scott E., of Danville on his win!
Thanks to everyone for entering, and good luck next time!

Branding Your Business - Part 1

This is the first of a two part series about branding and using it effectively.
Part two will be posted next week!

Defining Your Brand
We all know how special your business is, and we want to help you share your skills or product with the rest of the world, but in order to do that you must make sure you are branding you business in an effective manner. With these simple steps you will soon be on your way to standing apart from your competition in the minds of your customers.

Let's Get Started. Grab a piece of paper and allow yourself to have some uninterrupted quiet because we are going to do some good old-fashioned brainstorming.

Take a few minutes to read over and think about each of the questions below.

1. What is the purpose of your business? What is the heart and soul of your business? Define the passion that moves you in regards to your business
2. Why do your clients choose you over your competitor? (This is really important, if you do not know this next time you have a good repoire with a clients ask them why or why not they choose you!) Your customers buy on their own personal emotional reasoning, not your own. It so important that you define your customers want and needs out of your company not your own
3. Why should your clients choose you over your competitor? What makes your business unique and valuable to your customers? We live in a very competitive market, so it's important that you know about the other businesses you are competing with. Learn as much as you can about them, from what they specialize in to what their customers like (or don't like!) about them.
4. How can make this information work for you? Put it together and what do you get now that you have identified your wants, your customers want and what the other business in your market are doing you should know be able to determine you strategy.

Next week we will talk about what to do with all this fun information!

Our booth at the Home & Garden Show in Concord

April 8-10, 2011